Find out more about Standards Australia and what we do

Standards Australia is the country’s leading independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit standards organisation. We are also Australia’s representatives of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

Annual Reviews

Board & Executive

Careers

Standards Australia is an independent, not-for-profit organisation, providing solutions across all sectors.

We work with experts to review, develop, and contribute to standards in Australia. From participating on international technical committees, to representing Australia in global settings, to developing standards here in Australia, we aim to make a difference every day.

Our History

Standards are an invaluable worldwide resource. Globally there are well over half a million published standards. These are the products of over 1,000 recognised standards development organisations worldwide.

Standards have been around a long time. There is evidence of standards being used seven thousand years ago by the ancient civilizations of Babylon and early Egypt.

International

Standards Australia represents our nation on the two major international standardising bodies, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO)* and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

We co-ordinate the attendance of Australian experts at international meetings and participate in the preparation of a wide range of International Standards. We are extremely active within the international standardisation movement and a number of our senior management team members hold important voluntary offices on international standards bodies.

Events

Standards Australia has a strong history of facilitating solutions that meet the needs of consumers and industry. It remains committed to enhancing the social, environmental and economic well being of all Australians by providing an active forum for discussion, debate and consensus.

Young Leaders

The Standards Australia Young Leaders Program provides 20 young leaders an exciting opportunity to become involved in the national and international standardisation processes which supports Australian industry and governments.

The program provides training and direct exposure to the standards development processes and technical committees. This involves having access to shared information and collective intelligence to develop standards that support the economy, improve safety and health, national resources and improve quality of life.

Flagship Projects

Through our work on key flagship activities, Standards Australia promotes the growth of new industries to support the development of a safe and secure environment, and create market confidence in new and established technical fields.

Standards Awards

Standards Awards are presented to individuals, and one committee, who have made significant contributions to standardisation and who have demonstrated outstanding service in enabling Standards Australia and accredited Standards Development Organisations (SDOs) attain their objectives.

Nominations for the 2018 Standards Awards are open until 22 March 2018.

Incubator

The Standards Australia Incubator is a sandpit for playing with new ideas and testing concepts. It’s a place for you to share your vision of how we could develop standards better and how they could add greater value to Australian society by being delivered in more user focused ways. Bring us your ideas, no matter how big or small, and lets partner on finding solutions, together.

Our History

Standards are an invaluable resource. Globally there are well over half a million published standards from over 1,000 recognised standards development organisations.

A brief history of standards

Standards have been around a long time. There is evidence of standards being used 7,000 years ago by the civilisations of Babylon and ancient Egypt.

Standards started as a benchmark for weights and measures. They provided a single reference point against which all other weights and measures in that society could be standardised. As societies evolved, the need for mutually-agreed standards grew too. With the development of trade and commerce, standards extended into agriculture, ships, buildings and weapons.

A uniform set of criteria evolves

Initially, standards were unique documents and part of a single contract between the supplier and purchaser. Later, the same standard could be used across a range of transactions. This uniform set of criteria, using common knowledge, requirements and needs, is the basis of modern standardisation.

After the Industrial Revolution

After the rapid industrialisation of the early nineteenth century, the lack of national standardisation caused huge inefficiencies. Proof of this lack of conformity is still apparent today, for example, in the number of different railway gauges that exist.

After the Industrial Revolution, occupational injury became a major issue for many workers. By the late 1870s, workplace explosions were causing more than 50,000 fatalities each year. In response to this, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), one of the first voluntary standardising bodies, was established in 1880.

Standards in contemporary society

By the end of the nineteenth century, the value of standardisation was recognised as a national priority. From then on, standardisation started to flourish and is now intrinsic to modern society. From its industrial roots it now includes consumer safety, occupational health, energy management and more – all with the purpose of improving the quality and comfort of everyday life.

Company History

1922

Standards Australia, originally called the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, was founded. Main Committee of the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association had been gazetted in 1922.

1925

Australia joins the International Electro-technical Commission [IEC] with the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association as its representative.

1929

Renamed the Standards Association of Australia (SAA) to recognise wider role in society.

1947

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is established with SAA as founding member.

1950

SAA receives a Royal Charter to develop Standards in the national interest.

1951

SAA incorporated under a Royal Charter.

1973

SAA becomes an inaugural member of the Pacific Area Standards Congress [PASC].

1988

SAA drops 'Association' from name and becomes Standards Australia. Signs a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Government which recognises Standards Australia as the peak non-…government Standards development organisation.

Standards Australia acquires the Industrial Design Council of Australia (IDCA) and its Australian Design Awards (ADA) program.

1997

Standards Australia launches new application and assessment process for the Australian Design Award, making it one of the first on-line design award programs in the world.

1998

Standards Australia is one of the first national Standards bodies to develop an Internet delivery system for its Standards and technical publications. ADA becomes Australia's promotional member of the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID).

1999

Standards Australia changes its name to Standards Australia International Limited (SAI Limited) and becomes incorporated as an Australian public company limited by guarantee.

Standards Australia sells its commercial assurance business and grants an exclusive license to publish and distribute Australian Standard® brand standards for an initial term of 15 years to SAI Global Limited, a newly founded company that is floated on the Australian Stock Exchange.

2007

​Standards Australia moves its headquarters to Bridge Street in the Exchange Centre. Australian Design Awards opens its entry criteria to include all professionally designed products on the Australian market and changes its name to the Australian International Design Awards (AIDA).

Fraud Notice

Please be aware there are certain websites purporting to offer Australian Standard® brand standards for sale that are not authorised or controlled by Standards Australia Limited. People wishing to purchase Australian Standard® brand standards or any of our other publications should contact our publisher SAI Global Pty Limited at https://infostore.saiglobal.com.